Dizzee Rascal seeks new urban artists

Dizzee Rascal is to revive Dirtee Stank Records to help artists overcome hurdles in the music industry

Dizzee Rascal is set to launch his own record label as an alternative to major labels who "try to dilute the music". Dirtee Stank Records was originally the label the Boy in Da Corner star used to release his own debut 12", I Luv U, before he was signed to XL Records. However, now he is reviving the label to assist other UK urban acts in a similar position.

"As ever, the majors are jumping on the wrong things and consequently stemming the possibilities for other artists," explains Cage, Dizzee's manager and Dirtee Stank co-runner. "There's a massive gap between what you would call an underground label and a major record label. We're trying to find a way to bridge that gap."

According to Cage, Dirtee Stank exists to promote gifted artists with "social problems" that might scare off other labels. "People who, through the conditions they live in, might not be stable." The label should also help artists overcome hurdles such as access to studios that "take something from a raw demo to something people will get excited about on the street". Dirtee Stank's first signing, Klass A, fits the profile. The Leicester rap trio's career has been blighted by imprisonments, mostly for minor motoring offences. They were signed to XL but have "languished" on the label.

Dirtee Stank is American slang for smelly and horrible. "When Dizzee named the label everything was bling and shiny. He wanted to go as far as possible in the opposite direction."